FASHION giant Hugo Boss was fined £1.2million today over the death of a four-year-old boy hit by a falling changing room mirror.

Austen Harrison was struck on the head when the freestanding 7ft looking glass, which weighed 18 stone, toppled on to him, a court heard.

The youngster was left with irreversible brain damage after the huge mirror – described as being balanced upright like a “domino piece” – came down on top of him as he visited the Hugo Boss store in Bicester Shopping Village in Oxfordshire in June 2013 with his parents Simon and Irina Harrison.

Austen, of Crawley, West Sussex, died four days later at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

An inquest had earlier concluded concluded the mirror should have been fixed to a reinforced wall at the shop.

Coroner Darren Salter described the incident as “an accident waiting to happen”.

It would have been obvious to the untrained eye that the mirror posed a risk

Judge Peter Ross

Hugo Boss later admitted offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

At Oxford Crown Court today Judge Peter Ross said “it would have been obvious to the untrained eye” that the mirror posed a risk, adding that it was “nothing short of a miracle” that it had not fallen before.

There had been numerous “near misses” with mirrors at other stores across the country, the judge said, adding that Hugo Boss had a “corporate responsibility”.

The court heard monthly health and safety checks were introduced in Hugo Boss stores by 2000 but these did not take place in the Bicester store.

Steps have now been taken to enforce health and safety checks, with a specific review for mirrors in the company’s outlets, the court was told.

PA

The Hugo Boss store in Bicester, where Austen was injured by the mirror

he judge said: "It had a system which, if implemented properly with appropriate training, management and compliance, would have prevented this. There is no doubt about that.

"There is a corporate failure here, and a corporate responsibility."

Following the sentencing, Kerry Jack, a representative of Austen's heartbroken mother - now Irina Glaser after she and Mr Harrison divorced - read a statement on her behalf.

She said: "I would like to thank the coroner, Judge Ross and Mr Hake of Hugo Boss for their sensitivity and genuine care.

"Austen's greatest pleasure in life was to help others.

"In his memory I invite you to help someone, no matter how small or large the deed, to assist Austen in creating a friendlier world.

"My love extends to each one of you for doing this."

In 2013 the firm had a turnover of around £167 million and an operating profit of over £15 million, the judge said, and the company was expanding rapidly.

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The Bicester Village pop-up store was hurriedly revamped to replace a Burberry shop, and the haste to open it led to a "lack of planning, a lack of proper specification", while instructions for the mirror, which arrived there in September 2012, were "ill-defined and not followed through", he said.

He added: "I am satisfied so that I am sure that the breach goes to the very top of the company, not because of the absence of a health and safety system, but because there was a failure to operate and manage that system and ensure appropriate compliance to it to give health and safety the proper profile at board level."

Judge Ross conceded that Hugo Boss UK had taken immediate responsibility for the accident which claimed Austen's life, and said it was "quite clear the company has responded vigorously and properly" to establish improved health and safety practices.

But he said: "At all levels, from managing director downwards, there were responsibilities", adding: "Was there a systematic failure? In my view there was."

The company pleaded guilty to the health and safety charges in June when it said it would "fully live up to its responsibilities" over the incident.

A spokesman said: "The company has since done everything it can to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring. We wish to make clear that health and safety is an integral part of our business, and a priority at every level of the organisation.

"Over the last two years, our thoughts and sympathies have been first and foremost with Austen's parents.

"We know, however, that there are no words to alleviate in any way the suffering caused to the family, and for that we remain profoundly sorry."

Hugo Boss UK said that after Austen's death it had carried out a thorough review of its health and safety processes.

The firm was fined £1.1m for failing to ensure staff and members of the public were not exposed to risk at the store, and £100,000 for failing to adequately plan, control, organise and review preventative and protective measures at the shop.

It was also ordered to pay more than £46,000 in court costs, while compensation with the family had already been agreed.

Hugo Boss admitted offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

At an earlier inquest Coroner Darren Salter described it as "an accident waiting to happen".